Bangkok's long-awaited replacement for Dusit Zoo is 92.54% complete, with the first public access planned as a free opening in April 2027. The full 300-rai Biodiversity Park at Khlong 6 in Thanyaburi, Pathum Thani, is scheduled to fully open in early 2029. The new site stands on former Rangsit wetland, about an hour north of central Bangkok, depending on traffic. It will be three times the size of the former Dusit Zoo, which closed in September 2018 after 80 years in operation. Animals from the old zoo were moved to facilities around Thailand after its closure. A zoo designed around wetland habitat The project is officially described as a Biodiversity Park rather than simply a zoo. Its design replaces much of the traditional fencing and bars with dry moats and water channels separating visitors from animal habitats. Plans show animals with more space and cover, while visitors will have open viewing lines. Architect's renders depict tapirs in forest surroundings, orangutans climbing trees behind glass viewing walls, and tigers resting beside water at near eye level. The development is designed around, rather than over, the floodplain landscape. The site is described as having been underwater for around half of each year. Phase 2 will add four continental zones covering Asia, Africa, Australia and South America, alongside waterfront landscaping, public areas and utility systems. The operator has described planned technology as a Smart Zoo. Renders for the later phase include koalas and birds in the Australian zone, as well as leopards beside a waterfall in a rocky enclosure. Construction costs and timetable The Cabinet approved a total budget of 10.97 billion baht for the project. Phase 1 began construction in April 2023, with a budget of 5.54 billion baht, while Phase 2 accounts for the remainder. The April 2027 opening will provide the public with its first free opportunity to see the new complex. The complete opening, including all four continental zones and the full range of facilities, is pencilled in for early 2029. That timetable means around 11 years will have passed between the closure of Dusit Zoo and the full opening of its successor. What it means for Bangkok residents and visitors For foreign residents, tourists and families based in Bangkok, the new attraction is expected to be within day-trip range rather than requiring an overnight stay. Khlong 6 is roughly an hour's drive north of the city centre, traffic permitting, allowing visitors to travel out after breakfast and return in time for dinner. No ticketing details beyond the planned free April 2027 opening have yet been stated. Picture courtesy of zoothailand.org
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